The Commerce Department is largely focused on how states can better incorporate alternative technologies, such as unlicensed fixed wireless and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services, into their overall deployment plans. They are also focused on cost effective deployment of high-speed internet.

We know fiber is the best solution in most places. It’s the fastest, lowest latency, and most efficient technology. It’s also the most scalable platform for meeting the goals Congress enshrined in the statute:

“ensure that the network[s] … can easily scale speeds over time to meet the evolving connectivity needs of households and businesses; and support the deployment of 5G, successor wireless technologies, and other advanced services.”

Fiber is the best way to ensure BEAD-funded projects meet—and even exceed—the statutory 100/20 Mbps minimum speed threshold for subscribers, even as demand for capacity increases. And, studies have shown that 100/20 Mbps effectively provides all the benefits of high-speed internet connectivity for the vast majority of users.¹ A high-quality fiber connection gives users access to all the tools they need to fully thrive online: access to job training and education, the ability to access health care regardless of how far they live from a doctor, a platform for remote work and entrepreneurship, and more. Perhaps more importantly, investing in fiber today ensures that we are not only connecting Americans but strengthening U.S. competitiveness, and delivering a bargain to taxpayers for decades to come.

We also recognize that in more remote locations across the U.S. that private capital has historically struggled to reach, LEO satellite and unlicensed fixed wireless services are sensible solutions. Satellite technology is particularly useful to terrestrial networks seeking to fill gaps in coverage. In fact, AT&T is using satellite to augment our own mobile network offerings through our agreement with AST SpaceMobile.

If the BEAD program is going to succeed in providing all Americans access to high-speed internet service, while also being a good steward of taxpayer funds, states need at their disposal the full complement of technologies that can meet the Infrastructure Act’s speed and latency requirements. In doing so, states can stretch their BEAD allocations to the furthest extent. It would be better to get every American on the internet now than to run out of money and leave the job unfinished. States should be required to complete the job with the ample funds allocated to them.